The Grand Canyon Skywalk
The Grand Canyon Skywalk is a glass-bottomed bridge that stretches out 70 feet over the western rim of the Grand Canyon and gives visitors an unencumbered view. It’s situated on the Hualapai Indian Tribe’s West Rim and is a popular tourist attraction.
Built by a Chinese-American businessman in partnership with the Hualapai, the Skywalk cost $30 million to construct and was designed to withstand 100 mph winds. The Hualapai hope the development will lead to hotels, restaurants, and a golf course that could help combat their high unemployment rate and poverty.
Safety
The Grand Canyon Skywalk is a unique and breathtaking experience that offers visitors a chance to take a step back in time to the ancient geological beauty of the Canyon. This horseshoe-shaped glass walkway juts out 70 feet over the floor of the Grand Canyon and is open since 2007.
Safety measures are in place to ensure that visitors enjoy this unforgettable experience safely. To protect the glass, cameras, and other personal items are not allowed on the Skywalk and must be stored in secure lockers during the trip.
While dying from heat or dehydration is more common than falling off the rim, falls still remain a concern for tourists. According to the National Park Service, deaths from falls occur in fewer than one out of every 400,000 visitors each year.
Stability
The Grand Canyon Skywalk is a glass-bottomed observation platform suspended over the rim of the canyon. It opened in 2007 and offers spectacular views of the southwestern United States.
The horseshoe-shaped glass bridge is 1,200 meters (4,000 feet) above the floor of the canyon. It’s a massive engineering feat and one of the most scenic bridges in the world.
A man jumped off the Skywalk over the weekend and fell hundreds of feet to his death, according to news reports. This is the first time a person has died from falling off a bridge.
The Grand Canyon Skywalk is built on stable ground but the Indian tribe-owned corporation that owns the tourist attraction has filed for bankruptcy protection. The Skywalk is a popular attraction that draws 6 million visitors each year, but it’s not without risks.
Views
The Grand Canyon Skywalk is an awe-inspiring bridge with an incredible view. Located on Hualapai tribal land outside of Grand Canyon National Park, the cantilever bridge is a unique attraction that offers a breathtaking view of one of the world’s most iconic natural wonders.
The glass walkway is suspended 4,000 feet above the canyon floor and allows visitors to view the canyon below from an unparalleled perspective. The soaring walkway features 46 custom-built glass panels that weigh 83,000 pounds each.
In addition, the floor of the Skywalk is framed with 5-to-7-foot glass walls that provide unobstructed views of the canyon’s incredible beauty. The bridge is also supported by tuned mass dampers that distribute the weight of the structure to reduce typical wind and human movement variations.
The Skywalk is open year-round and can accommodate visitors of all ages and abilities. Visitors must be in good physical condition and wear shoes. Cell phones and other personal property are not permitted on the Skywalk, and they must be stored in lockers before entry.
Cost
The Grand Canyon Skywalk is a unique suspended platform that enables tourists to walk on a glass bridge 70 feet above the rim of the canyon. It was constructed on the Hualapai Indian Reservation outside of Grand Canyon National Park and is a joint venture between the tribe and Chinese-American businessman David Jin.
The attraction has generated much controversy, with some people arguing it was an affront to the natural beauty of the Canyon. Despite this, it has drawn thousands of visitors since opening in 2007.
The cost of the tour includes a 35-minute airplane flight from Boulder City to the West Rim of the Grand Canyon followed by an air-conditioned shuttle to Eagle Point along the rim. It also includes rim-top sightseeing and a BBQ lunch.